Logistics expertise is an essential component of disaster management. That was the motto of the last Logistics Response Team training course (LRT) that took place in Neuhausen, Germany, from 8-14 June 2024.
Jointly organised by DG ECHO with the Global Logistics Cluster (GLC) and hosted by the THW, the LRT trained 26 logisticians coming from the fields of civil protection and humanitarian aid, during an intense six-day simulation.
The LRT is based on a fictitious large-scale emergency scenario requiring immediate operational logistics surge capacity, teaching experts how to best assume an initial coordinating role during the onset of an emergency. During the week, participants are trained in realistic field-like conditions and are encouraged to learn by doing while having to overcome obstacles presented by the local authorities (military, police, customs) and other logistical challenges to complete their objectives. The course provides a safe, facilitated, environment in which people “learn through exposure” – a real opportunity for experts to consider and prepare for scenarios they have not yet encountered through the lens of someone who has been there and can offer real-world knowledge.
The value of informal learning. Key to that was the whole premise behind this: that there is no right or wrong - but it’s a learning experience. It also developed learning skills and mindsets to survive and perform at a high-level under stress.
Through a realistic emergency experience, the participants developed key technical skills as emergency response managers and their capacities as senior logistics managers/first responders, adopting proactive attitudes through participation in interactive discussions and practical activities. By the end of the week, the experts were able to explain the role and mandate of the Logistics Cluster and the functioning of joint inter-agency emergency logistics operation concepts, now with increased confidence to apply knowledge by practicing the implementation of a full Logistics Cluster programme cycle.
Among the objectives of the LRT, the increase of efficiency of logistics response in humanitarian emergency settings. But as a joint European Commission-United Nations course, another key learning objective stands out: the fostering of synergies between the fields of CP and HA. That is, establishing a network and promoting joint inter-agency logistics learning and sharing of best practices, also exposing the humanitarian experts to the UCPM and its mandate. Ultimately, the fostering of cooperation between the UCPM and Humanitarian Emergency Logistics Actors.
The synergies [between CP and HA] are quite day to day and necessary to me. It is refreshing to see that not only that is recognised but that we have persons who are formally exposed to those synergies. And when those synergies do pop-up, that they are able to operate and perform at a high level within that environment and not see it as a separation or – even worse – confrontation. As one versus the other, competing for resources or competing for attention, even personnel, space, etc. Everything being viewed as a shared resource and a shared effort going forward.
I thought this would be like any normal training course. But the moment I stepped in here, engaging with all these people, I learned new techniques, and this environment changed my whole mindset. The LRT gave me some interesting skills, life hacks. I have coordinated emergencies in the field and (…) it would have been good to have these skills before engaging in the field, it would have made my life easier. Now I am prepared to take these skills to my country and use them in my daily activities. If something happens in my country, I know the [LOG] cluster, its mandate, what they can do for us and how to be part of this community of partners. I have also gained a big network. (...) We have an EU Delegation in Somalia, and they support us in a very huge manner, but we didn’t know the UCPM, and we didn’t even know that we could request its services.
Role players at the LRT have an extremely relevant role, as they facilitate the course and mentor the participants. Each role player is a skilled logistician representing their own institution. Around 25 organisations were present in the course. THW volunteers also played a substantial part in the successful delivery of the course, showcasing a certified High-Capacity Pumping module to increase the awareness of the humanitarian experts while simultaneously prompting the realism of the emergency scenario.
The LRT is one of the courses available in the specialisation phase of the UCPM Training Programme. As an advanced course, it prepares UCPM experts to be deployed internationally in a coordination and assessment position as a Logistics expert as part of a EUCPT. By the end of the course, the LRT not only made the complementarity among Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid even clearer but was the trigger for a stronger field collaboration in the future. A partnership to cherish.
I wanted to highlight that this training opportunity brings us, from the UCPM, closer to the system of the United Nations. We’ve touched upon the cluster system several times in UCPM training courses – and I can say that this is the first time we understood it! Bringing together the knowledge of the systems of the UN and the UCPM can be nothing else but a step forward to a better response, to better working together – because we aim for the same objectives.
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